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\u201cNo man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency\u201d (Theodore Roosevelt).<\/p>\n
The word \u201cexpediency\u201d is unusual in that it\u2019s often used in two different senses, one negative and the other positive. In addition to their denotation or explicit meaning, many words also have a connotation, a more indirect meaning consisting of a positive or negative aura or atmosphere that surrounds them. \u201cExpediency\u201d has two basic meanings, but these two meanings have two different connotations. One is negative while the other is positive.<\/p>\n
The first meaning of \u201cexpedient\u201d is \u201cserving to promote one\u2019s interests,\u201d and this meaning does not give us a good feeling. This kind of expediency is the kind that we associate (whether rightly or wrongly) with politicians. Pontius Pilate, for example, apparently decided to go ahead and have Jesus of Nazareth executed because it was politically expedient. But as Theodore Roosevelt argued, \u201cNo man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency.\u201d With regard to this kind of expediency, William Morley Punshon summed it up like this: \u201cCowardice asks, Is it safe? Expediency asks, Is it politic? Vanity asks, Is it popular? Conscience asks, Is it right?\u201d<\/p>\n
But the second meaning is \u201cappropriate to a particular end or purpose,\u201d and this meaning not only has a positive connotation, but it also contains an idea that\u2019s quite valuable for us to think about. Used this way, the word \u201cexpedient\u201d means that which is \u201cfitting, proper, beneficial, or helpful.\u201d And in this sense, we ought to consider the expediency of every action that we consider engaging in. With any decision, the crucial question for an honorable person is not simply \u201cIs this permissible from a legal standpoint?\u201d but more importantly, \u201cWill this help others? Will the outcome be profitable?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laws are important, and we can\u2019t do without them. But laws are no more than a minimum standard for us to go by \u2014 within the law, we must also be concerned with what is expedient. The fellow who is willing to do \u201canything the law allows\u201d is not the person you want for a next-door neighbor. But our neighbor shouldn\u2019t have that kind of neighbor either. So we\u2019ve always got to ask, \u201cIs what I\u2019m about to do beneficial? Will it be a blessing to those around me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018All things are lawful,\u2019 but not all things are helpful. \u2018All things are lawful,\u2019 but not all things build up\u201d (First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians).<\/p>\n
Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n